Abelia plant named 99-6-7

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Abelia  plant named ‘99-6-7’, characterized by a combination of large flower panicles of pink/purple flowers and sepals, earliness to flower, and heavy blooming from May to September.

Botanical designation: Abelia hybrid.

Cultivar denomination ‘99-6-7’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the ornamental flowering shrub botanically known as Abelia and hereinafter referred to by the varietal denomination ‘99-6-7’.

The new Abelia ‘99-6-7’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Griffin, Ga. The objective of the Abelia breeding program is to produce a tough and adaptable drought-tolerant plant with commercial value. This cultivar has significant commercial and home gardener appeal with its attractive foliage, large flower panicles, heavy blooming, pink sepals, and low maintenance requirements. These and other qualities are enumerated herein.

The new Abelia ‘99-6-7’ originated from a cross in 1998 between the cultivar Abelia ‘Edward Goucher’ (unpatented female parent) and Abelia chinensis (unpatented, male parent). (‘Edward Goucher’ is a hybrid of A. x grandiflora and A. parvifolia [syn. A. schumannii] that was introduced in 1911 by Edward Goucher, USDA.) Seeds from this interspecific cross were sown in 1999. These seedlings were planted in a field plot in Griffin, Ga. (cold hardiness zone 8a) in the fall of 1999, where they were evaluated for flowering and foliage characteristics, plant form and height, cold hardiness and drought tolerance. Plant ‘99-6-7’ was selected and vegetatively propagated by stem cuttings in 2001. In the summer of 2002, ‘99-6-7’, was planted with 14 other selections into a field plot in Griffin, Ga. in a completely randomized design with ten replications per selection. In summer of 2003, ‘99-6-7’ was planted into a field plot in Blairsville, Ga. (cold hardiness zone 7a), along with 10 other selections and the check cultivar Abelia ‘Rose Creek’ (unpatented hybrid from open pollination of Abelia chinensis (female parent) with unknown male parent). This plot had six replicates per selection in a randomized complete block design.

Asexual reproduction of the new Abelia ‘99-6-7’ using stem cuttings has been continued in Griffin, Ga. since 2001. Clonally propagated plants have been evaluated in Griffin for over 18 years, and in Blairsville over 16 years. In Griffin, height and widths were measured for the first time in March 2004; following measurements, half of the plants were pruned every two years to a height of 40 to 50 cm and half were left unpruned. Height and width data were collected in Griffin every two years prior to pruning. First bloom dates were recorded each year. Winter cold and spring frost damage was assessed each spring in Griffin and Blairsville. Date of first bloom was recorded each year. Observation for disease or insect damage was continuous throughout the summer.

Abelia is a genus of 15-30 species and interspecific hybrids that are popular landscape plants. They range from deciduous to evergreen, depending upon the cultivar and the climate. They have attractive, colorful foliage and flower from late spring to autumn. Abelia is a low-maintenance shrub that is tolerant of any well-drained soil, has heat and drought tolerance and is resistant to most pests. It thrives in full sun or part shade and can generally be grown in cold hardiness zones 5 through 9. The new Abelia ‘99-6-7’ plant is expected to be distributed for landscape use in the U.S. and perhaps in other countries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of a new variety, Abelia ‘99-6-7’. The new variety ‘99-6-7’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in, for example, temperature, light intensity, soil types, and water and fertility levels without, however, any variance in genotype.

Asexual reproduction of the new Abelia ‘99-6-7’ by softwood stem cuttings since 2000 has shown that the unique features of this new Abelia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

‘99-6-7’ plants, along with other Abelia cultivars ‘Raspberry Profusion’, ‘Lavender Mist’, ‘Rose Creek’ and ‘Edward Goucher’ (maternal parent of ‘99-6-7’) have been evaluated since 2002 in field plots at Griffin, Ga. and since 2003 in Blairsville, Ga. ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Lavender Mist’ are full siblings. ‘Rose Creek’ was used as a standard for comparison as it is a popular cultivar that has A. chinensis as a maternal parent. Height and width data were collected in Griffin every year. Half of the plants were pruned every two years, while the other plants were not pruned to provide information on mature size. First bloom dates were recorded each year. Winter cold and spring frost damage was assessed each spring in Griffin and Blairsville. Observation for disease or insect damage was continuous throughout the summer.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2001 (5^(th) edition) published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated plants grown from stem cuttings in Blairsville, and Griffin, Ga., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety ‘99-6-7’ and set it apart from all other existing varieties of Abelia known to the inventors.

-   -   1. The most distinctive quality of ‘99-6-7’ is the heavy and         continuous display of pink/purple flowers and sepals from May         through September.     -   2. The variety ‘99-6-7’ begins blooming at least a week earlier         than most cultivars of Abelia (Table 3).     -   3. The flowers occur in large compound panicles, mostly terminal         though some are axillary (FIGS. 1 and 2; Table 4).     -   4. Sepals and flowers of ‘99-6-7’ are long and narrow (FIGS. 3         and 4; Table 7).

The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated plants grown from stem cuttings in Blairsville, and Griffin, Ga., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety ‘99-6-7’ and set it apart from all other existing varieties of Abelia known to the inventors.

-   -   1. Height and width of ‘99-6-7’ is statistically similar to         ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Lavender Mist’, but ‘Rose Creek’ is         shorter (Tables 1-2).     -   2. The variety ‘99-6-7’ begins blooming earlier than most         cultivars of Abelia, and, on average, about a week earlier than         ‘Raspberry Profusion’, ‘Lavender Mist’ and ‘Edward Goucher’, and         five to six weeks earlier than ‘Rose Creek’ (Table 3).     -   3. The variety ‘99-6-7’ blooms from May to September, with heavy         blooming in May, June, and August in Griffin (FIG. 1).     -   4. The flowers occur in compound panicles, mostly terminal         though some are axillary. The panicles average about 31 cm in         length and 11 cm in width. The lengths of ‘Lavender Mist’ and         ‘Edward Goucher’ are similar to ‘99-6-7’; ‘Raspberry Profusion’         is intermediate in length and ‘Rose Creek’ is the shortest at         6 cm. Panicle width of ‘99-6-7’ is similar to ‘Raspberry         Profusion’ and ‘Lavender Mist’; ‘Rose Creek’ and ‘Edward         Goucher’ are narrower (FIG. 2; Table 4).     -   5. The number of subpanicles per compound panicle averages about         26 on ‘99-6-7’. ‘Lavender Mist’ and ‘Edward Goucher’ are         similar; ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’ have fewer         subpanicles (Table 4).     -   6. Flowers of ‘99-6-7’ and ‘Raspberry Profusion’ are shades of         red-purple or purple; ‘Rose Creek’ flowers are white. Sepals of         ‘99-6-7’, ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’ are red-purple         throughout summer; sepals of ‘99-6-7’ turn greyed-orange in the         fall while ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’ turn         greyed-red (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4; Tables 5 and 6).     -   7. Flowers of ‘99-6-7’ are narrower than ‘Raspberry Profusion’         but wider than ‘Rose Creek’. Sepals of ‘99-6-7’ are longer and         narrower than those on ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’         (Table 7, FIGS. 3 and 4).     -   8. Field evaluations in Griffin since 2002 have shown very         little or no cold damage on ‘99-6-7’. Plants of ‘99-6-7’ have         been evaluated in Blairsville, Ga. in 2004, 2008 and 2011. Minor         damage was observed on 2 out of 6 plants in 2004, 3 out of 6         plants in 2008 and 1 out of 4 plants in 2011. ‘Edward Goucher’         had severe damage on most plants in 2008. Other checks had no         damage or minor damage (Table 8).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of ‘99-6-7’. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors of the new Abelia ‘99-6-7’.

The photographs labeled FIGS. 1A-1C depict the overall plant habit of ‘99-6-7’ (FIG. 1A) as compared to ‘Raspberry Profusion’ (FIG. 1B) and ‘Rose Creek’ (FIG. 1C). The photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in Blairsville, Ga. on Jun. 26, 2014.

The photographs labeled FIGS. 2A-2C depict a close-up view of the compound panicles of ‘99-6-7’ taken on Jul. 25, 2012 (FIG. 2A) as compared to ‘Rose Creek’ (FIG. 2B) taken on Aug. 8, 2019 and ‘Raspberry Profusion’ (FIG. 2C) taken on Aug. 8, 2011. The photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in Griffin, Ga.

The photographs labeled FIGS. 3A-3C depict a close-up view of the flowers and sepals of ‘99-6-7’ on Jun. 14, 2001 in Griffin (FIG. 3A), ‘Raspberry Profusion’ on May 31, 2012 in Blairsville (FIG. 3B) and ‘Rose Creek’ on Aug. 8, 2019 in Griffin, Georgia. (FIG. 3C). The photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in the respective locations.

The photographs labeled FIGS. 4A-4C depicts a close-up view of the sepals of ‘99-6-7’ (FIG. 4A) and ‘Raspberry Profusion’ (FIG. 4B), both taken on Sep. 11, 2015 in Griffin, Ga. ‘Rose Creek’ (FIG. 4C) was taken on Sep. 20, 2005 in Blairsville, Ga. The photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in the respective locations.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progeny grown from stem cuttings in Blairsville, and Griffin, Ga., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety ‘99-6-7’.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2007.

The following observations, measurements, and values describe plants grown in Griffin, Ga. Plant ‘99-6-7’ was propagated from softwood stem cuttings and grown in one-gallon containers prior to planting in field plots. Data are from plants planted and grown in the field since 2002.

The new variety ‘99-6-7’ has a spreading, upright growth habit. Red-purple flowers and sepals are borne on large compound panicles. Blooming is very heavy from May to September

(FIG. 1). The blossoms are highly fragrant. Blooming is heavy even on young plants in containers or in the field.

Four checks were used for comparison to ‘99-6-7’: ‘Raspberry Profusion’, ‘Lavender Mist’, ‘Rose Creek’ and ‘Edward Goucher’. The panicles of ‘99-6-7’ are significantly longer than those of ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’, and the number of subpanicles per panicle is greater than ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’ (Table 4, FIG. 2). Both upper and lower surfaces of the flower petals are purple on ‘99-6-7’, while ‘Rose Creek’ has white flowers (Table 5, FIGS. 2 and 3). Sepal color of ‘99-6-7’ is red-purple in the summer, but turns to greyed-orange in the fall. In contrast, the red-purple sepals of both ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’ turn greyed-red in the fall (Table 6, FIG. 4). The new variety ‘99-6-7’ blooms a week earlier than all of the check cultivars, except ‘Rose Creek’, which blooms a month later (Table 3).

After 16 years growth in a field plot in Griffin, ‘99-6-7’ plants that had not been pruned were an average of 2.8 m tall and 3.6 m wide. Plants that were pruned every two years were 1.5 m tall and 2.3 m wide (Tables 1 and 2). Statistically, ‘Rose Creek’ was shorter than both pruned and unpruned plants of ‘99-6-7’, and width was also less on pruned plants. The other cultivars were mostly similar in height and width to ‘99-6-7’.

‘99-6-7’ is readily propagated through cuttings. Six-inch cuttings taken in May or early June before flowering rooted at a rate of over 70%. After 2 months, cuttings can be transferred to one-gallon containers using a well-drained potting mix. From cutting to saleable plant is about 8 months. No insect or disease problems have been noted in potted plants maintained outside the greenhouse, or in field plants. Once established, the plants are quite drought resistant. After landscape establishment, a hard pruning is recommended in early spring approximately every other year to encourage compact growth and heavy blooming.

The following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the new Abelia ‘99-6-7’ grown in Griffin, Ga. propagated from softwood stem cuttings and grown in one-gallon containers prior to planting in field plots. Data are from plants planted and grown in the field since 2002. Data from Table 8 is taken from plants grown in Blairsville, Ga.

-   Botanical classification: Abelia ‘99-6-7’. -   Commercial classification: Shrub. -   Parentage: Initial cross between the cultivar Abelia ‘Edward     Goucher’ (unpatented female parent) and Abelia chinensis (male     parent). (‘Edward Goucher’ is a hybrid of A. x grandiflora and A.     parvifolia [syn. A. schumannii] that was introduced in 1911 by     Edward Goucher, USDA.) -   Growth and propagation:     -   -   Propagation type.—By softwood stem cuttings and tissue             culture.         -   Growth rate.—Softwood cuttings rooted in 3 weeks at an             approximate temperature of 80° F. under the mist.         -   Root description.—White, dense, freely branched.         -   Rooting habit.—Fibrous. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Mostly deciduous shrub, upright, peduncles pendulous,             foliated, with heavy blooming of pink/purple flowers and             sepals.         -   Usage.—Various uses, such as container patio plants, potted             plants, landscape uses such as border, hedge, and mass             planting.         -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Habit.—Mostly upright, some mature branches arching.         -   Size of plant.—A. Height: about 2.8 m on unpruned plants in             field for 16 years. B. Width: about 3.6 m on unpruned plants             in field for 16 years.         -   Stem.—Mostly upright, some mature branches arching. A. First             Year. 1. Color (RHS) Greyed-Orange N170A. 2. Diameter:             Diameter: about 1.6-1.9 mm. 3. Pubescence: Puberulent mix of             short and longer hairs, mostly curved. 4.             Exfoliation/Texture None. 5. Shape: Round. 6. Pith: a. Type:             hollow. b. Diameter: (measured one-half way from apex to             start of one year's growth) — about 1.4 mm. c. Color (RHS):             Yellow-Green 145D. 7. Odor (of bruised stem): Cut grass             (faint). 8. Lenticels. a. Number none observed. 9. Internode             length (average of 5 to 10 internodes in middle of first             year shoots): about 12 mm. 10. Strength: Very strong. B.             Second Year. 1. Color (RHS): Greyed-Orange N170A with             Greyed-White 156A striations. 2. Diameter: about             2.5-5 mm. 3. Exfolation/Texture: developing lengthwise             cracks along stem.         -   Vegetative buds.—A. Arrangement Opposite or ternary. B. Type             Valvate. C. Size (length×width) Approx. 1.5 mm×2 mm. D.             Scale Number: 2. E. Scale Color (RHS): Greyed-Purple             184A. F. Position/Disposition (angle to stem) 45°. G. Number             at Node 2 vegetative single. H. Pubescence Scattered. I.             Shape Lanceolate.         -   Leaf scar.—A. Shape Crescent. B. Vascular Bundle Traces             (number, orientation) horizontal across scar. C. Pubescence             Short hairs around scar margin. D. Position of Bud (on leaf             scar) Directly above central vascular bundle of leaf             scar. E. Color Differentiation (RHS) Green 143C. F. Size             (h×w) About 1 mm×2 mm.         -   Trunk or large stems.—A. Color(s) (RHS) Greyed-Orange 166B             with Greyed-White 156A striation. B. What Size Stem             Exfoliation/Begins On about 3-4 mm. C. Diameter about             5-12 mm. D. Texture Somewhat rough, striated, bits of             exfoliation present.         -   Leaf.—A. Type Entire. B. Color Through Seasons (always             RHS). 1. Emerging: May. a. Upper: Tip is Greyed-Orange 176A;             Base is Yellow-Green 146B. b. Lower: Tip is Yellow-Green             147C; Base is Yellow-Green 144A. 2. Summer: August. a.             Upper: Green 137B. b. Lower: Yellow-Green 144A. 3. Fall:             September. a. Upper Green 137A. b. Lower Green 138B. 4.             Winter (dates): December — mostly deciduous, though has             newly emergent small leaves. a. Upper Yellow-Green 147A with             Brown 200A. b. Lower Yellow-Green 147B. C. Mature Size             (L×W): about 3 cm×2.5 cm. D. Apex: Rounded acute. E. Base:             Rounded, equilateral. F. Margin: Crenate. G. Shape:             Lanceolate. H. Lobes (present/absent): Absent. I. Vein Color             (RHS): Yellow-Green 147D. J. Pubescence: 1. Upper Surface:             Sparse short hairs along margin. 2. Lower Surface: scattered             short hairs along midvein, more concentrated along lower             one-third of midvein. K. Arrangement on Stem: Mostly             opposite, some trifoliate. L. Venation: Simple alternate. M.             Texture. 1. Thickness: 0.3 mm. 2. Degree of waxiness of             surfaces: Slightly waxy. N. Odor when Crushed: Faint grassy.         -   Petiole.—A. Length: About 3 mm. B. Shape: Slightly curved             and concave. C. Color (RHS): Green 137C. D. Pubescence: Very             sparse short curved hairs, mostly on reverse side. E.             Diameter: about 1 mm.         -   Inflorescence(s).—A. Type: Compound panicle, mostly             terminal, some axillary. B. Number per Plant: about 500 to             1000, depending upon size of mature plant. C. Size (L×W):             about 18-31 cm long, 6-10 cm wide: subpanicles about 7-9 cm             long, about 5-6 cm wide. D. Color (RHS): Flowers form             continuously throughout the summer. 1. At emergence: Purple             75A. 2. Full bloom: Purple 75A. 3. Fading: Red-Purple             62C. E. Longevity: May to frost. F. Peduncle. 1. Length:             Mean 53 cm. 2. Diameter: Mean 5 mm. 3. Color (RHS):             Red-Purple 58A. 4. Pubescence: Covered in very short hairs,             bracteoles present. 5. Strength: Strong. 6. Aspect: 45° to             arching.         -   Flower.—A. Number per Inflorescence: about 250-750 in             various stages of bloom. B. Axillary or Terminal:             Axillary. C. Symmetry: Regular, actinomorphic. D. Size             (L×W): about 14 mm×7 mm. E. Pubescence: Short curved hairs,             slightly glandular. F. Texture: Punticulate under scope,             many scattered hairs. G. Color at peak of bloom (RHS): 1.             Upper Surface: Purple 75A. 2. Lower Surface: Purple 75B. H.             Fragrance: Highly floral. I. Time of Full Maturity:             Spring. J. Time Range for Showiness Early May until             frost. K. Bud. 1. Size (L×W): about 10 mm×3 mm. 2. Shape:             Elongated teardrop. 3. Color (RHS): Purple 75A. 4.             Pubescence: Covered in very short glandular hairs. 5.             Longevity: One week. L. Petals. 1. Number: One. 2. Size             (L×W): about 14 mm×7 mm. 3. Shape: Funnel, slightly tubular,             gamopetalous. 4. Apex: 5 lobes, rounded and slight             curled. 5. Base: Funnel shaped with short tube. 6. Margin:             Entire but slightly curled. 7. Color at Peak of Bloom             (RHS): a. Upper Surface: Purple 75A. b. Lower Surface:             Purple 75B. 8. Texture: Punticulate under scope, many             scattered hairs. 9. Arrangement: NA. M. Pedicels. 1. Color             (RHS): Red-Purple 58A. 2. Pubescence: Covered in very short             hairs. 3. Length: about 1-2 mm. 4. Aspect: 45°. 5. Strength:             Medium. N. Sepal(s). 1. Number: Five. 2. Size (L×W): about 7             mm×1.4 mm. 3. Shape: Elliptic. 4. Apex: Rounded. 5. Base:             Equilateral. 6. Margin: Entire. 7. Texture: Smooth. 8.             Pubescence: Lightly scattered with hairs. 9. Color at peak             of bloom (RHS). a. Upper surface: Red-Purple 58D. b. Lower             surfaces: Red-Purple 58D. O. Male Reproductive             Structures. 1. Number: 4. 2. Anther: Dorsifixed,             Revolute. a. Size (L×W): about 1 mm×0.5 mm. b. Shape:             Oblong. c. Color (RHS): Yellow-White 158D. d.             Texture/Pubescence: Pubescent. 3. Filament. a. Size (L×W):             about 10 mm×0.4 mm. b. Color (RHS): White N155B. c. Texture:             Smooth with scattered hairs. toward base. 4. Pollen: a.             Quantity: Moderate. b. Pollen color (RHS): White N155B. P.             Female Reproductive Structures. 1. Pistil. a. Shape:             monostylus, free. b. Size (L×W): about 18 mm×1 mm. c.             Position (superior, inferior, etc.): Epigynous, ovary             inferior. d. Color (RHS): See stigma, style, and ovary             below. e. Pubescence: Mostly glabrous, ovary has short             curved hairs. 2. Stigma. a. Shape: Circular, slightly             domed. b. Color: Orange-White 159 D. c. Pubescence:             Glabrous, punticulate. 3. Style a. Length: about 13 mm. b.             Shape: tubular. c. Color (RHS): White N155B. d. Pubescence:             Mostly glabrous. 4. Ovary. a. Shape: Oval. b. Number: 1. c.             Pubescence: Covered in short, curved hairs.         -   Fruit.—A. Type: Achene. B. Size (L×W): about 6 mm×1.5 mm. C.             Color(s) During Ripening (RHS): Seeds ripen throughout the             summer. 1. Early: Yellow-Green 145A. 2. Mid: Yellow-Green             145A and Red-Purple 63B. 3. Late: Greyed-Orange 174A. D.             Shape: Grooved cylindrical capsule. E. Number per             Infructescence: 1. F. Pubescence: covered in short hairs. G.             Number of Carpels: 1. H. Persistence (effective period):             Late spring to frost.         -   Inflorescence(s).—A. Shape: Cylindrical, grooved             longitudinally. B. Size: about 6 mm×1.5 mm. C. Color (RHS):             Brown 200D. D. Number per Locule per Ovary per 1. Fruit: E.             Germination Capacity: About 30%. F. Pubescence: Covered in             short hairs.

TABLE 1 Height and width (cm) of ‘99-6-7’, ‘Raspberry Profusion’, ‘Lavender Mist, ‘Rose Creek’ and ‘Edward Goucher’ in a field plot in Griffin, GA in 2018. Genotype Rep # Height (cm) Width (cm) ‘99-6-7’ 5 149.4 ± 11.6* 231.8 ± 9.3 ‘Raspberry Profusion’ 5 143 ± 9.7 203.6 ± 52.6 ‘Lavender Mist’ 4 125 ± 18.8 221.0 ± 17.3 ‘Rose Creek’ 5 95.8 ± 6.2 164.5 ± 16.7 ‘Edward Goucher’ 5 133.4 ± 16.7 220.8 ± 14.5 *Standard error of the means at the 95% confidence level. Plants were pruned every two years to a height of about 45 to 60 cm, depending upon the maturity of the plant. Data are from plants that were in the field at least 9 years. Reps of ‘99-6-7’, ‘Raspberry Profusion’, and ‘Lavender Mist’ were planted in the field in 2002. ‘Rose Creek’ was planted in 2004, 2006, or 2009. ‘Edward Goucher’ was planted in 2004, 2005, or 2009.

TABLE 2 Height and width (cm) of ‘99-6-7’, ‘Raspberry, ‘Lavender Mist, ‘Rose Creek’ and ‘Edward Goucher’ in a field plot in Griffin, GA in 2018. Genotype Rep # Height (cm) Width (cm) ‘99-6-7’ 5 283.6 ± 6.5* 364.3 ± 21.5 ‘Raspberry Profusion’ 4 267.2 ± 14.1 374.9 ± 32.8 ‘Lavender Mist’ 6 273 ± 4.4 437.3 ± 31.0 ‘Rose Creek’ 4 176.2 ± 9.6 302.9 ± 51.7 ‘Edward Goucher’ 6 239.7 ± 23.6 380 ± 32.9 *Standard error of the means at the 95% confidence level. Data are from plants that were in the field at least 9 years. Reps of ‘99-6-7’, ‘99-6-9’, and ‘99-6-11’ were planted in 2002. ‘Rose Creek’ was planted in 2004, 2006 or 2009. ‘Edward Goucher’ was planted in 2004, 2005 or 2009. These plants were not pruned since field planting.

TABLE 3 Week of first bloom for abelia plants in a Griffin field plot in 2011, 2015 and 2017. Genotype 2011 2015 2017 ‘99-6-7’ 4-25 (10) 4-27 (5); 5-4 (4); 4-24 (10) 5-11 (1) ‘Raspberry 4-25 (1); 5-2 (8) 5-4 (3); 5-11 (6) 5-1 (3); 5-8 (6) Profusion’ ‘Lavender 4-25 (1); 5-2 (9) 5-11 (6); 5-18 (4) 5-1 (4); 5-8 (3); Mist’ 5-15 (3) ‘Rose 5-30 (1); 6-6 (9); 6-8 (1); 6-15 (3); 5-22 (2); 5-29 (7); Creek’ 6-13 (2) 6-22 (2); 6-29 (1) 6-5 (2) ‘Edward 4-18 (4); 4-25 (6); 5-4 (3); 5-11 (6) 4-24 (1); 5-1 (5); Goucher’ 5-2 (1) 5-8 (3) A chinensis 6-6 (1) 6-15 (1) 6-5 (1) The number in parentheses is the number of plants that bloomed on that date.

TABLE 4 Comparison of morphological traits of ‘99-6-7’, ‘Raspberry Profusion’, ‘Lavender Mist’, ‘Rose Creek’ and ‘Edward Goucher’. Compound Compound Number of panicle panicle subpanicles per Cultivar length¹ (mm) width¹ (mm) compound panicle ‘99-6-7’ 312.4 a² 106.9 abc 25.6 a ‘Raspberry 187.5 b 109.1 b 19.3 b Profusion’ ‘Lavender Mist’ 327.7 a 118.8 ab 21.0 ab ‘Rose Creek’ 60.7 c 94.4 c 6.3 c ‘Edward Goucher’ 295.5 a 89.2 c 23.1 ab ¹Length and width of compound panicles and number of subpanicles was determined by selecting the ten longest compound panicles on a plant of similar age. ²Means of lengths and widths were compared across genotypes using t-tests. Means followed by different letters are significantly different P < 0.05. Data were collected from unpruned field-grown plants in full sun in Griffin, Georgia on Sep. 19, 2019.

TABLE 5 Flower color of ‘99-6-7’, ‘Raspberry Profusion’and ‘Rose Creek’. Cultivar Petal - upper surface Petal - lower surface ‘99-6-7’ Purple 75A Purple 75B ‘Raspberry Profusion’ Purple 75A Red-Purple N74D ‘Rose Creek’ White N155C White N155C

TABLE 6 Sepal color of ‘99-6-7’, ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’ throughout the flowering season. Cultivar Early summer Late summer Fall ‘99-6-7’ Red-Purple Red-Purple Greyed-Orange 58D 60A 176C ‘Raspberry Red-Purple Red-Purple Greyed-Red Profusion’ 59D 60A 178B ‘Rose Creek’ Red-Purple Red-Purple Greyed-Red 59D 60A 178B

TABLE 7 Sepal length and width (mm) and flower length and width (mm) of 99-6-7, ‘Raspberry Profusion’ and ‘Rose Creek’. Sepal Sepal Flower Flower Cultivar length width length width ‘99-6-7’ 6.8 a* 1.4 c 14.0 a 7.1 b “Raspberry Profusion’ 5.9 b 2.8 a 11.2 b 9.4 a ‘Rose Creek’ 5.6 b 2.1 b 11.9 b 6.4 c *Means of lengths and widths were compared across genotypes using t-tests. Means followed by different letters are significantly different P < 0.01. Data is based on a random sample of 20 sepals and flowers from each cultivar.

TABLE 8 Number of plants of ‘99-6-7’ and check cultivars with cold damage in the Blairsville field plot in 2004, 2008, and 2011. Severe No damage Minor damage damage/Dead Genotype 2004 2008 2011 2004 2008 2011 2004 2008 2011 ‘99-6-7’ 4 3 3 2 3 1 0 0 0 ‘Raspberry 6 5 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 Profusion’ ‘Lavender 6 5 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 Mist’ ‘Rose 4 5 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 Creek’ ‘Edward NA 0 0 NA 1 0 NA 3 1 Goucher’ Plants were classified as having no damage, or minor, moderate or severe damage. None of the cultivars shown here had moderate damage. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct cultivar of the Abelia plant named ‘99-6-7’ as illustrated as described herein. 